Hold onto your teacups because we've snagged a bit of the oldest black tea around—Si Qiu Gu Shu Hong Cha--四球古树红茶. We're talking about black tea made from over 3000-year-old trees, firmly planted on the side of a mountain at a breathtaking 1700 to 1950 meters high. Yes, you read that right, and it's not some local folklore, but a genuine tea tree anomaly, all thanks to the tea treasures of Guizhou Province.
Now, you might be wondering, "How on earth did we get your hands on this ancient elixir?" Well, it's all about connections with local tea growers—some forged over decades. Keep those going strong, and maybe, just maybe, your journey will lead you to some exceptionally rare teas.
It's the remarkable texture that sets this apart from any other black tea. How good is it? Well, it’s so thick you'll swear it’s the consistency of porridge (okay, maybe that's a slight exaggeration 😊). The flavor? It's like a rollercoaster of sensations – waves of elusive wildflowers, roasted purple sweet potatoes, and a very assertive high mountain vibe.
Here's another kicker--if you've ever dreamed of brewing black tea more times than you can count, your dream just came true. This tea’s endurance is like that famous battery bunny that just keeps going and going and going. Fifteen rounds of delight, and you'll still be in store for more. Why? Because you get the 3000-year-old tree's wisdom and flavor in this one-of-a-kind black tea. The history of these trees goes so far back that in the early 1980’s, Chinese tea researchers dated some of the petrified seeds at 10,000,000 years old!
But what about the price? Is it worth it? Well, it's sure not your everyday sipper. However, if you're up for a once or twice in a lifetime experience, this tea effortlessly transports you there. So why not indulge yourself and your taste buds in this extraordinary journey through time? It's an adventure you wouldn't want to miss.

Storage: Store unused portions sealed in an airtight bag away from light in the freezer at 5F/-15C or below.  

Brewing water: Poland Spring (called Origin Brand in some areas) brand mineral water produces the finest results. Soft water, distilled water and hard water will ruin this tea. Tap water varies wildly and is best avoided as well.

Brewing temperature: 185F/85C

Brewing method: 5g tea leaves (~2 heaping Tablespoons), 100ml (a bit less than 1/2 cup) water each time for 5 seconds in a Chinese gaiwan or a small pot. After the first 10 infusions, increase each infusion time by 5 seconds. To produce lighter tea, either decrease amount of tea, increase amount of water or decrease brewing time. To produce stronger tea, either increase amount of tea, decrease amount of water or increase brewing time. You can easily adjust to suit your individual taste.

Notes: Small quick infusions showcase the changing flavors of each cup. Longer brewing times in larger quantities of water end up more homogeneous, but still very good results.